INAUGURAL WORLD CUP

The original mascot at the inaugural 1987 World Cup was a ball-shaped mascot named 'Drop'. It was dropped before kick-off.

All Blacks captain Jock Hobbs missed the inaugural World Cup after being forced retirement due to injury. He was so disappointed that he took an overseas holiday to avoid the tournament. 

John Hart admitted that he would have selected Michael Jones for the 1986 tour to France - but instead, he arranged off-season training for him with Graham Mourie with a view to a 'shock tactics' selection for the 1987 World Cup. 

In TP McLean's book 'The All Blacks' he described John Kirwan as "powerful as the village blacksmith", and following his form at the 1987 World Cup he should be titled 'Sir Kirwan'. Twenty years later John Kirwan was knighted.